How to Shop for Travel Insurance

For those who think travel insurance is pointless, it isn't and here is how you should shop for one! 

Travel insurance has many facets. Most of these go ignored as people tend to underestimate the importance of travel insurance. Someone who thinks he is healthy rejects the possibility of unforeseen circumstances that may cut his trips short or forcing them into an early retreat. But how do you choose a good travel insurance package? Here are a few features your insurance must provide!

Coverage Limit – Make sure the coverage limit provided by your company is large enough. But, do not opt for coverage too high. Even air ambulance transport, if required in case of an emergency, isn't going to cost a fortune. Be realistic; find a middle ground that is not too heavy on the pocket and is reasonably high to cover any emergencies, accidents or other travel medical assistance you may require.

Emergency – It is absolutely essential that your policy covers for emergency evacuations. And the premises of evacuation should be flexible whether it is a foreign country, international waters, or the middle of a street to the hospital. Working with medical transport companies will be much easier if you are insured.

Geography – A good insurance package will cover most countries on the global map. For all the different rules and regulations beyond local borders, your policy should fall within the criteria of most.

Coverage of Other Losses – Whether it is stolen personal items, losses incurred as result of cancellations, or any legal expenses incurred as per the local laws your insurance package should be able to compensate for this unplanned expenditure.

Cover the Unexpected – Company shutdowns, regional strife or any other unexpected development likely to hamper your travel plans or inflict upon you damage that could not have been foreseen should be covered under travel insurance.

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Travel Tips For Winter

Travel in winter will be successful only when the traveler will be successful in navigating the weather.

When travelling in winter be mentally prepared for cancellations, delays, stranding on the airport and other woes connected to air travel. The airlines are also at the mercy of a snow storm so blaming them for delays really won’t help in anyway. Read on to know about some tips that can be followed when travelling in winter.

1. Connecting Flights

The biggest problems and confusions occur when the traveler is taking a connecting flight. In many cases it has been seen that if the first flight gets cancelled the travelers has no choice but to return home. Hence, as a rule in winters always try and book nonstop flights.

2. Check Layover Times

If there is no other option than a connecting flight, it makes sense to carefully scrutinize layover times. Always keep time in hand to reach the other airport and keep the weather in mind. And if you think that you will miss a connecting, inform your flight attendant and request her to hold the other flight.

3. Be Well Prepared

Winter weather can take a turn in no time so always travel well prepared. Dress suitably and carry your medication with you at all times. It makes sense to pack for a few days extra, keeping in mind a worse case scenario. It is also strongly advised to keep the  details of a travel medical assistance company handy. Just in case there is a medical emergency and you want help right away.

4. Do Not Wrap Gifts

If you are travelling in the festive season, do not waste your time packing gifts. The security will invariable tear them up to check. Shipping your gifts ahead of you is a more sensible and convenient option. 

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Technology-Driven Healthcare

Previously deemed as disruptive, technology has now come to drive healthcare and may soon define it.

For centuries, medical care was all at the hands and forceps with nothing but educated intuition to support the men at the center of it all. In over the past few decades, not only has the helplessness of the doctor vanished, but he has in turn become more accurate and effective. One of the major reasons for this is the force with which technology has driven healthcare and now become an inseparable part of the process. Here are some of the features that will drive healthcare for years to come:

Microchip Trials – The trials of new medication or vaccines on innocent animals has stopped since the introduction of microchip trials. The chips help to reconstruct human organs and can easily be tested upon for accurate data.

Tech like Google Glass – While wearable technology is still in its infancy, doctors believe technology like Google glass will eventually come into mainstream healthcare as it helps for better interaction with patients and a better education for learners of their practice.

3D Printing – Tissues, cells, organs, bones, you name it and it has been printed with the use of 3D printing technologies to realize to-scale models of the human body’s various parts. Consequently the study becomes easier.

Optogenetics – While previous studies of the brain were limited to attaching wires to a human being’s head. Technology is enabling doctors to do this by simply concentrating a strobe of light to a particular spot.

Digestible Sensors – Monitoring has become easier. Not only can you check blood pressure, sugar at home, sever diseases can now be monitored by sensors that can be digested like food. These sensors later supply useful data.

Cloud Based Communication – Inevitably as dark as it may sound, everyone needs some form or the other of healthcare. That implies more record keeping and data. Such vast storage can simply not be afforded at every location.

Medical Tourism: Thanks to medical transport companies and international healthcare service providers, patients can now head straight to destinations in any part of the world for cheaper medical care. 

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Understanding When to Request an Air Ambulance for Your Patient

Air ambulances have literally revolutionized medical transport all over the world. But, the service has to be used wisely.

Back in the day when patients could be transported only on wheels, there was no question of pondering over the when, why and how. Things have changed now and for good – state run and private air ambulance transport services are here to pick a patient and ensure on-time treatment.  But, when exactly is it okay to call for an air ambulance?

Here are some important points to consider.

Fear Factor – Before you choose to opt for air travel medical assistance, the question needs to be asked of yourself whether it is completely out of the fear of the situation or fear of having to take care of the patient that you are making the call.

Access Points (in case of emergency) – You need to make sure you call from a location where a helicopter can easily land and subsequently take-off. If that is not the case to begin with, you may be wasting your time making the phone calls.

Time – Is time of critical importance for your patient? If that is the case, there are other methods of medical transportation that might be beneficial. An air ambulance, though quick when in the air, usually takes significant time in the landings and taking off. It is not all that quick as you may imagine.

Extraction – Air ambulance transport is ideal for high emergency scenarios or evacuations. If the patient is severely sick and also stuck, air ambulances are just the thing. In other scenarios where a lot more medical equipment and crew is required or the patient can manage travel along the roads, regular ambulances run by non-emergency medical transport companies should do just fine.

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